London Film Festival 2018: 'The Favourite' Film Review

This review contains mild spoilers for the first act of 'The Favourite'.

The Favourite (based on Ophelia Feild's novel of the same name) relishes in the royal rumour surrounding England's Queen Anne. The last reigning Stuart monarch allegedly engaged in a scandalous affair with two fellow ladies in her court - a lesbian love affair that isn't widely spoken about in educational establishments.

Yorgos Lanthimos, a director known for his quirky comedies, found himself inspired by this premise and has delivered a wickedly funny film that, annoyingly, left me a bit lost. Here, Emma Stone (Abigail) and Rachel Weisz (Sarah, Abigail's cousin) portray the aristocrats vying for Queen Anne's affection (Olivia Coleman). 

Marvel's Avengers S.T.A.T.I.O.N. Arrives in London - My Thoughts!

An incredible new experience is arriving in London this year...

The ultimate Marvel Cinematic Universe exhibition is arriving at London's ExCel Centre on November 30th, perfect for any Avengers fanboy or fangirl. Attending the S.T.A.T.I.O.N (standing for Science Training and Tactical Intelligence Operative Network) allows participants to "step inside their favourite films and become part of the MCU"!

London Film Festival 2018: 'Sorry To Bother You' Film Review

The more you watch, the weirder it gets.

Boots Riley's Sorry to Bother You has been hailed by critics and audiences as "Get Out on acid", but I think that description dilutes the brave and insanely creative storytelling on display here. Sure, there are a few sequences that seem similar to 2017's race-thriller, but for the most part Sorry To Bother You tackles completely different aspects of one large topic.

This film is deeply surrealist. This surrealism is first introduced in the form of fun, creative visual flairs but Sorry To Bother You gets more and more insane in a progression that escalates right up until the final scene. While the comparison, then, to Get Out seems slightly patronizing, the "on acid" part was pretty on the money.

London Film Festival 2018: 'Beautiful Boy' Film Review

I've just come out of the London Film Festival press screening for Beautiful Boy, so my thoughts here are pretty fresh and raw. 

Beautiful Boy isn't a perfect film but my God is it a powerful one. This is the story of real-life journalist David Sheff's (Steve Carrell) love for his son Nic (Timothée Chalamet), who finds himself grappling with an addiction to crystal methamphetamine. The film is based on Sheff's book of the same name as well as Nic Sheff's book Tweak. 

Chalamet, despite being more of a supporting actor to Carell, delivers the film's best performance - a performance that varies greatly from his characterisation of Elio in last year's Call Me By Your Name, affirming his vast and exciting range as an actor. While it's definitely early days, I would be shocked if he doesn't receive yet another Academy Award nomination, and I think he'd have a pretty good shot at winning, too. 

London Film Festival 2018: 'Widows' Film Review

A masterpiece.

Attending the 2018 London Film Festival as a member of the press comes with its perks. We get to go to screenings in cinemas that have uber-comfy chairs, we get a cool, self-validating press lanyard, we might even get a free novel on our way into the movie theatre. That was the case for Widows, anyway, a film based on a 1980's BBC series which was itself based on a novel by Lynda La Plante - a book that now happily rests in my backpack, thanks 20th Century Fox!

'A Star Is Born' Film Review

On the edge of glory...

Bradley Cooper's remake of A Star is Born marks the fourth time Judy Garland's original got an overhaul. This isn't just a re-cast, though, because this version of the film offers commentary on the symbol of the contemporary pop star in a way that not only feels relevant to a modern audience but necessary. Musicians so often seem to sell out to reach the big time, but as Cooper's Jackson Maine states repeatedly in the film (and as I'm about to horribly misquote): when you get given a voice you have to speak with your soul. You have to speak with your soul because, if you don't, no one will listen.

London Film Festival 2018: 'The Guilty' Film Review

My second London Film Festival screening was pretty fantastic...

The Guilty is an elegant, beautiful and gripping crime thriller. From the moment the film begins you're drawn into the plot like water down a plughole - there's an inescapable magnetic force at play which is only exaggerated by the story's single location. Don't let this put you off though; in well crafted films like this it's what you can't see that frightens you most. Also like that water down a plughole you'll feel unstable and disorientated by the time the film ends, a bewilderment not only created through Jakob Cedergren's nuanced lead performance but by the script's audacity to relentlessly surprise.

London Film Festival 2018: 'Assassination Nation' Film Review

Data Whining...

Assassination Nation is a distinctly confusing film. It's both relevant and unnecessary. It's enjoyable and yet disgustingly uncomfortable to watch. It's progressive and yet it rests on such obviously outdated tropes. Simply put, I think it's not as clever of a film as it makes out to be

Disney vs Netflix | Everything You Need To Know About Disney's Upcoming Streaming Service

 Walt Disney's CEO Bob Iger is squaring up to Netflix...

You've probably noticed that the way we consume content is changing pretty quickly.

20 years ago, Blockbuster provided a new, efficient film distribution service in the form of VHS rentals and it was this chain of stores that saw in the age of the DVD. The high definition Blu-Ray has since usurped the now out-dated disc and - mostly thanks to Netflix - things have started to go digital. Less and less people are watching TV channels, subscribing to cable TV and visiting the cinema; at the same time, YouTube and streaming services are creating a direct-to-the-consumer distribution model that seems to mark the final evolution from ape (VHS) to homo sapien (streaming). 

What I Saw @ The Edinburgh Fringe Festival 2018 | Recommendations and Reviews

A round-up of the best (and least-best) shows I got the chance to see at the 2018 Edinburgh Fringe Festival...

Hey guys, I got the oppurtunity to travel to the famous Edinburgh Fringe Festival this year and it was amazing. Let's talk about what I saw there.

10 of my Favourite Films | The Trysting Trees Tag

Ok, it's not actually 'called' that, but just run with it.

I was tagged by my friend Ellie on Facebook to take part in a little viral tag where you list your 10 favourite films during 10 consecutive days. Although I should technically be sharing this list on my timeline I decided that, amidst my barrage of Beyonce videos and political rants, I would just post them all on here - the site I created solely to talk about movies. 

The Best LGBTQ Films To Watch During Pride Season | Great Queer Cinema

Visual Albums, Rom-Coms and Indies, Oh My!

Ok, so London Pride is about to take over the UK's capital and June (the International Pride Month) has just come to an end. It's probably the best time of the year to support queer cinema and watch a new LGBTQ movie, so allow me to take you through some of the best including ones you definitely haven't seen.

'Wonder Woman 1984' to Tackle The Gay Rights Movement and AIDS Crisis | Wonder Woman 2 Update

Steve Trevor is also set to return, giving something for Gal to Pine over...

According to recent rumours (that have now been backed up by on-set photos), Wonder Woman 2 - or Wonder Woman 1984 as it was officially announced to be called last week - is set to tackle the AIDS Crisis and Gay Rights Movement for the first time in a Hollywood blockbuster. This seems to be a bold move in the progression of LGBTQ representation within Hollywood and it feels fitting for a character like Wonder Woman to lead the charge considering her place as a feminist and queer icon.

2002's 'Scooby-Doo' Was Originally an R-Rated, Drug-Riddled, Queer-Inclusive Rom-Com

Note: this article was written before James Gunn's offensive tweets resurfaced in 2018.

It's come to my attention that the live-action Scooby-Doo movies were originally intended to be far more salacious than than the cult-classic, family films which litter DVD shelves today. Really, it shouldn't be a surprise that the productions were initially aimed at an older audience when you realise that both Scooby-Doo 1 and 2 were written by James Gunn - the writer/producer/director behind Marvel's Guardians of the Galaxy franchise. The Marvel series made waves for its shockingly adult humour when it began in 2014 - one line delivered by Chris Pratt about black-lights and Jackson Pollock paintings, for example, ruffled the feathers of many a conservative parent.

The Importance of Male Sensitivity in 'Avengers: Infinity War'

This post contains major spoilers for Avengers: Infinity War.

Last night I gave in and re-watched Avengers: Infinity War. In the few days the film has been out it has garnered over half a billion dollars and secured the biggest world-wide opening weekend of all time. During my second viewing, though, I noticed something that I didn’t the first time round: the huge amount of male sensitivity featured within the movie.

"Avengers: Infinity War" Ending and End Credits Scene Explained | Spoiler Alert

"There's no one in the car..."

I'm not gonna keep saying this. Spoilers ahead. Major spoilers. The most spoilers. Spoiler Alert. Huge spoilers ahead. 

I just wanna quickly say that so much of Infinity War's magic comes from it's spoilers. It's shocks and awe-inspiring moments are a result of 18 films worth of build up. People have literally grown up with these characters, myself included, but not everyone has the time or money to buy a ticket to see it opening weekend. Don't be selfish, don't spoil this film for others. In the words of the Russo Brothers (who directed this very movie), 'Thanos Demands Your Silence'.

Cool, ready? 

Let's go.

The Countdown to 'Avengers: Infinity War' Series | A Spoiler-Free Rumour Round-Up and Catch-Up

 It's the final countdown...

Haven't read all of our 'Countdown to Avengers: Infinity War' posts? Don't worry! I've collected them all for you here in one post...

The Soul Stone Resurrection Theory | Countdown to 'Avengers: Infinity War'

"I'm the goddess of Death. What are you the god of again?"

Time's up, Marvel fans. The first showing of Infinity War happened last night in L.A. at the film's world premiere and spoiler-free (and spoiler-filled) reviews are showering the film in acclaim. This will be a spoiler free post, don't worry about that, but be warned: Forbes and Vanity Fair have published major Infinity War spoilers so if you want to go in fresh stay away from YouTube comments and chat forums. This post does contain speculation, but I haven't seen or read into the spoilers for Infinity War, so whether this does or doesn't come true within the movie isn't known to me. 

Now, with that disclaimer out of the way, let's get this final Countdown to 'Avengers: Infinity War' entry under way. Today I'm gonna discuss a popular fan theory regarding the elusive Soul Stone, the only Infinity Stone yet to appear within the MCU. According to comic lore, the Soul Stone has the power to capture and resurrect lost souls. While the Soul Stone may not even appear within this movie (it could be saved for next year's Avengers 4) it is worth speculating who Thanos could bring back onto our screens - and for what purpose...

'Infinity War' Cast Q&A Transcript | Countdown To 'Avengers: Infinity War'

"Are you going to be in Avengers 4?"

Last night every single Avenger took to L.A. for the world premiere of Avengers: Infinity War - a movie set to make the biggest box office debut of all time. Before they arrived to the red carpet, though, they all sat down en masse for a press junket Q&A hosted by the Grand Master himself Jeff Goldblum. The following is a transcript of the event as filmed by Collider:

'Beychella' Breakdown and Review | The Beyonce Homecoming at Coachella 2018

Was this the greatest live performance of all time?

Edit: Homecoming: A Film by Beyonce is now available on Netflix.

It's 5am. I'm waking up this early because Beyonce is about to perform at Coachella (and henceforth live on the official Coachella YouTube stream) and it remains a secret to nobody that if I am anything, it's a Beyonce fan. As the fantastic HAIM set finishes up, Beyonce posts a pre-written message to her Facebook page telling her "Beyhive" how much she loves them and can't wait for the imminent performance.

"[I] have a special show planned for you so please be safe and stay hydrated. We need your energy! There will be an hour intermission before my performance, so mark your spot, charge your phones, grab your drinks. Can't wait to see y'all at 11:05pm!"

It's not normal for Beyonce to post messages like this. Loyal fans know that even getting an Instagram caption from Bey is a rare moment of interpersonal interaction. This is a megastar famous for dropping music and visual albums without any form of announcement, after all. That was when I knew. This wasn't going to be a normal festival set alike her gound-breaking yet stripped-back Glastonbury debut in '11. Beyonce was about to fuck it up, and we only had an hour to find out how.

Ranking the Marvel Cinematic Universe Movies | Countdown to 'Avengers: Infinity War'

Where will your favourite Marvel movie land on this comprehensive ranking?

It's Marvel Month here at JG Review in honour of Avengers: Infinity War's imminent theatrical release. It's time, then, to finally rank all of the Marvel films. Considering there are 18 films within the MCU to date, this is bound to provoke disagreement, so let me know what you would change in the comments below! This is just...my...opinion.

Reminder: I'll only be ranking the films that take place within the Avengers universe (or MCU [Marvel Cinematic Universe]). Fox's X-Men franchise doesn't come under this bracket.

Okay, let's do this...

Where And What Are The Infinity Stones? | Countdown to 'Avengers: Infinity War'

#WhereIsTheSoulStone

It's officially April which means Avengers: Infinity War is round the corner. With over 20 different films having led up to this cinematic event, it would be understandable if you need a refresher in terms of what you should know walking in to the movie theatre. Look no further, then, than this humble blog, because in the four weeks leading up to the Avengers' ultimate outing I will fill you in with all the (admittedly nerdy) details.

This week's assignment? The Infinity Stones - powerful singularities that predate the Universe itself...

Love, Simon Movie Review | A Queer Response

Will Greg Berlanti's adaptation of the best-selling book prove successful?

If you've read my other post about Love, Simon, you'll know how big of a step this particular film takes in terms of mainstream representation. Love, Simon aims to recapture the classic John Hughes magic (the director behind Sixteen Candles and The Breakfast Club), but this time introduces people to a different type of protagonist. While audiences are, at this point, well adjusted to seeing queer characters on television there has never been an all ages, mainstream, Hollywood production with a queer leading man, leaving many to wonder whether movie-goers are ready to meet someone like Simon. Despite, then, the unavoidable need to adjust to such a ground-breaking format, I'm happy to say that finally meeting Simon was an undeniable pleasure.

Fantastic Beasts: The Crimes of Grindelwald | The Great Gay Dumbledore Discussion + Trailer Analysis

As Thestrals and Bowtruckles arrive on screen yet again, there's one Fantastic Beast J.K. Rowling is refusing to let free - the big gay Elephant in the room.

Warner Bros. just released a brand new teaser for the hotly anticipated Fantastic Beasts 2. Thanks to the fact that this time it will be tying more heavily into the original Harry Potter films, The Crimes of Grindelwald has within its new trailer a few fun Easter eggs that are sure to please fans, so without further ado let's dive into 5 of the most exciting ones. If you want to head straight to the infamous 'gay Dumbledore' discussion, though, scroll past the following trailer breakdown!

'Annihilation' Movie Review | A Divine Fatal Fantasy

Alex Garland's follow-up to the critically acclaimed Ex Machina is an instant classic...

Annihilation has had a troubled journey to your Netflix home screen. Green-lit by Paramount in 2014, the novel-to-screen adaptation of Jeff VanderMeer's best-seller was set to be director Alex Garland's follow-up to Ex Machina - his acclaimed debut feature. Cut to 2018, though, and this cinematic masterpiece has been denied a theatrical run everywhere but the US.

It turns out that conflict between test audiences, Garland and Paramount studio heads led to concerns about Annihilation's commercial potential. Labelled as too complex by studio execs, Paramount took the decision to sell the film to Netflix for overseas distribution and offer a limited theatrical run to American movie-goers. The film's release mirrors Paramount's The Cloverfield Paradox which arrived straight to Netflix in last month's superbowl. It's a damn shame too, because Annihilation might just be the best sci-fi horror since Alien.

Why RuPaul's Drag Race Is One Of The Most Important and Ground-breaking Shows Today

"Because reading is what?"

Above: RuPaul. Queer representation has led to a queer revolution...

With twelve seasons featuring over one hundred different queens, RuPaul's Drag Race has evolved from cult hit to worldwide phenomenon. You’ve probably seen the memes that have come out of the show, be it Alyssa Edward’s tongue pop cut to the beat of a Justin Bieber song or the compilation of queens in the 'Untucked' lounge slurping their cocktails to the backing of unbearably awkward silence. What you probably haven't seen, though, unless of course you have watched the show, is the astounding heart and bravery on display within each group of contestants, and the way in which their voices are expanding the minds of millions.

7 Marvel Heroes That Will Join The Avengers in Phase 4 after Infinity War

As Infinity War approaches, it's time to turn our attention towards the new heroes joining the gang...

Fan favourites Iron Man, Captain America, War Machine and Hulk are expected to end their Marvel runs with the upcoming Infinity War movie, as Robert Downey Jr., Chris Evans, Don Cheadle and Mark Ruffalo reach the end of their contracts. To replace them a flush of new heroes is set to join the cast, as Phase 4 of the Marvel Cinematic Universe seeks to maintain the success of the Avengers franchise that has been up to this point defined by the group of leaving stars. Warning, though, this first one contains minor spoilers for Black Panther...

'Black Panther' Changes Everything | Movie Review and Legacy Discussion

Marvel's most vibrant and exciting film yet is a spectacular ode to African culture.

The socio political impact of Disney's latest release cannot be under estimated. Black Panther is a film set within the fictional east African country of Wakanda, which never faced western colonialism due to an impenetrable jungle lining its border. What blossomed there was a culture unlike any other country on Earth, one more advanced than typical, western ideas of post-modernity and thriving on its secret natural resource of Vibranium. If that fictional element rings a bell then you'll probably remember that Vibranium happens to be the base material of Captain America's shield, as well as the metal used by Ultron in Avengers: Age of Ultron to construct an unbreakable body for himself (the metal is indestructible). 

The Top 21 Biggest Blockbusters Coming in 2018

And you thought 2017 was packed...

Buckle in guys, because the 2018 blockbuster season is genuinely about to begin. Yes, long gone are the days when major motion pictures were reserved for a summer-time release date. Major, tent-pole releases from Disney, Warner Bros. and more are primed and ready to shake up the movie landscape in the coming weeks, but if you find it hard to remember what's actually coming out then you're in luck - here's a comprehensive list of the highest profile, multi-million dollar movies heading to your cinemas in the next 12 months...